Last week, I worked with two founders with curiously different approaches to solving current business problems.
The first is caught in a spiral—aware there's a problem but is currently unable to accept ideas for potential solutions that help them get out of their own way or trip themselves up. The biggest issue this creates for the business is that the team receives their venting and frustration instead of clarity and direction.
The result? People are becoming demotivated, unclear on the plan, and question whether they are valued. How will a business succeed in this environment?
The second founder has approached it completely differently: actively listening and willing to accept that they are neither right nor have the best ideas. Working with this person and their team has been great as they are getting through tricky problems together.
It's easy to get frustrated when things don't go as planned or when it seems like your team doesn’t ‘get it’. But, they look to you for guidance, leadership and humility above everything else.
So here’s two things I’ve learned:
1. Swallow your pride: Help your team ‘get it’ – work with them, not against them.
2. Ask if it’s working for them: Are you lifting your team up or letting them down? Your choices can mean the difference between solving problems or getting a fresh load of new ones.
Keep growing.
Tim
